Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Octopus Party Nail Lacquer Polar Duress

Polar Duress was released towards the end of December 2015 by Connecticut-based indie polish maker Octopus Party Nail Lacquer (OPNL) as one-half of a Winter 2015 Duo produced in collaboration with B.I.T.C.H. by Jaclyn. More recently creator Dave offered it in his etsy shop as a stand-alone, which is how I got my greedy grasping paws on it. Dave describes Polar Duress as a deep slate blue linear holo. To my eye, there's a skosh of seawater green in there along with the grey that makes me want to call it an Atlantic blue. Atlantic blues are typically darker, heavier and a little more sinister than this, which to me has a certain clear-eyed gallantry to it -- perhaps a kinder, more temperate Atlantic blue. It also reminds me of freshly blued gunmetal for some reason, maybe because of the "slightly metallic teal underbelly," as Nichole of Bedlam Beauty observantly describes it, a sleek transparent petrol blue glow. The holographic pigment it carries is responsive and athletic, adding a chromatic dimensionality to the polish in almost any circumstance. From what I've seen in other reviews, it also produces a beautiful linear prismatic display in the sun, though we are on day two of overcast skies and intermittent rain here so there's no sun to be had. Application was lovely. The consistency of Polar Duress is fluid, creamy and dense with a medium viscosity and a smooth self-leveling flow over the nail that is easily manipulated with OPNL's round flexible brush. It's one of those polishes that goes exactly where you put it and stays there. Pigmentation is excellent, nearly a one-coater, but two coats will net a more even opacity as well as richer color and holographic effects. Cleanup is easy and straightforward -- there's almost no pigment travel at all and no residual staining, so unexpected and obliging for this dark blue. Polar Duress dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth, slightly flat finish that loves a good topcoat to look its best.Photos show two coats of Polar Duress over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

OPNL Polar Duress

I say YES to the shimmering richness of this gorgeous blue! Wherever it's going, I want to go too. That semi-metallic glow, which is much more prevalent than I was able to capture in my photos, gives it a sleek, weightless quality on the nail that is most agreeable. Sweet!ttfn,Liz